Al-Shabaab’s Unavoidable Clash with Somaliland Democracy

Via Jamestown.org -

If the suicide bombings in Kampala during the World Cup finals were a sign of al-Shabaab’s plans to fight outside of southern Somalia, then Somaliland’s new ruling party must prepare for more attacks. Al-Shabaab leader Shaykh Ahmad Abdi Godane “Abu Zubayr” has made clear his intention to expand al-Shabaab’s jihad to his native Somaliland.

Somaliland’s democratic political system and desire for independence are to Shaykh Abdi Godane what Egypt’s secular state is to Ayman al-Zawahiri and Saudi Arabia’s friendship with the United States is to Osama bin Laden – blasphemy. Abdi Godane is a Salafist who fought with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan until the end of 2001 and calls for jihad “until Islamic law is implemented on all continents of the world” (AFP, May 13, 2009).

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Somaliland is an Unrecognized state located in the Horn of Africa. It is regarded internationally as being an autonomous region of Somalia.The government of Somaliland, however, regards itself as the successor state to British Somaliland which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of Somaliland. Somaliland has formed a hybrid system of governance under the Constitution of Somaliland, combining traditional and western institutions.

Somaliland's Motto: "Justice, Peace, Freedom, Democracy and Success for All"